I am a 4a. I haven't texlaxed yet, but I'm thinking about it because I have no curl at all, unless I put a good leave-in, such as Cantu, Hawaiian Silky or a gel like Eco Styler on it. I don't like gel because it's too sticky. My hair soft though. If I put enough moisturizer, it's like a straight fro. I might not do it now, but I know sooner or later, I may have to because I was natural as a teen and I have to press it. My hair was thick and without heat, it would just poof out.

Please forgive me if I'm butting in where I don't belong since I'm a 3a but it's YOUR hair and I think you should do whatever you want that will make you happy. I've had my hair straightened chemically at times because I wanted a different look and I enjoyed it.

Everyone's hair is so different and some people don't have the time or patience to fuss with it. Do whatever will make your life better. Hair is just hair - you aren't hurting anyone whatever your hair style and there's no need to feel guilty.

Again, if I am out of line I apologize because I do read some of the other columns so I am aware of the cultural constraints pro and con "natural" hair but I'm coming at it from a different viewpoint. I've had women give me a hard time because i wear make-up and they say it's a societal construct and men don't wear makeup so why do I feel I "have" to wear make-up etc. I don't feel that I "have" to - but I like how it looks on me so I refuse to feel guilty.

I hope you do whatever makes you feel you look your best and that you enjoy your hair and your life. Best of luck whatever you decide!

2/c and some 3A.
Protein sensitive but can use occasionally
Highly porous. Color over grey.
Best 1st day method: Super Soaker
Stylers: Mix Curls in a Bottle into everything for shine. Terrible pj
Sometimes try roller sets - classic glamor but I prefer my curls. Every day is a gift

No need to apologize. : ) You said nothing wrong. I agree with you 100 percent. I am going to keep my hair natural for right now. I'm going to try out Miss Jessie's and Mixed Chicks. If that doesn't work, then I'll texlax.

Obviously whatever decision you make is yours alone. My suggestion to you though, given that you BC'd only two months ago, is to give yourself a year. At your stage, my hair didn't have any curl either, but as it grew I've realized that it's very coily, and the more I removed the hairs that were right next to the previously relaxed hair, the coilier it became.

I won't say that I haven't thought about texlaxing, because I can still get up to 75% shrinkage, depending on my hair's mood. It's ear length shrunken and collar-bone length stretched, but I decided when I transitioned that I wanted to stick it out for five years, and I'm still going forward on that premise.

I think the only thing you'll regret is being hasty with whatever decision you make. So give yourself some time and then make your choice, and good luck with whatever choice you make!!

I agree with Ronnie. You need to give it time. I tex-lax but I've never been natural. I may transition in a couple of years and when I do it's because I finally excepted my hair for what it is. Not for what I wish it could be.

You need to reasses why you went natural in the first place. Get on YT if you haven't already and look at other curlies journey's. Not what they have now but the EARLIER just-getting-started videos. I really like Cynthiarf. They are inspiring to me and shows the process and progress of the journey.

NOBODY can make you feel guilty about the decisions you make about YOUR hair but I fear you may regret not giving your natural hair an honest chance.

It still crosses my mind from time to time about texlaxing or getting a texturizer. My hair is coily, but dry in some parts. I think I need to start co-washing daily. Right now, I just shampoo with a sulfate shampoo. I never really like a non-sulfate shampoo. I stopped using eco styler because it was too sticky. It really moisturized and defined my curls. It just stayed sticky for 2 days. Thanks ladies for all of the encouragement.

I texlaxed a month ago with a no-lye. I underprocessed it. I am contemplating if I should transition back because it looks like I never did anything to it, except in the front. My hair is 3c/4a and it's getting hard to style and moisturize. My hair looks like this everyday now. When I was natural I was able to put eco styler on, but I got frustrated because after a while I got tired putting gel on my hair and without gel it was dry no matter what type of moisturizer I put on my hair. I may do a corrective texlax with ORS lye relaxer. The reason I went natural was because I got tired of straight hair. I wanted curls, which I still do, but I don't dry hair either. Thanks for the advice ladies.

I'm totally confused by this. How do you have 3c/4a hair and not have curls? Either way I think there is nothing wrong with wanting curly hair do what makes you happy..

ETA: if dryness is an issue adding a chemical process may exacerbate the problem though especially if the initial process you did didn't "work?"

Originally Posted by ms_clawed

I concur! I'm naturally a 4a with 3c in the back and i have major major ringlets. Every strand curls, so I don't know that you can be a 4a w/out curls? This whole curl classification thing is nuts to me. My avatar is a pic of my natural hair with KCCC, but I now have a Brazilian Kertain Treatment and I won't go back. EVER! It's been a lot of trial and error ( I'm sure if you look through my posts/pics you'll learn a lot), but I finally think I found my BKT HG. Tex laxing will only exacerbate the dryness issue. Nothing makes your hair more shiny and stress free than a BKT. I do mine at home now and I don't regret it. With 4a hair that doesn't curl w/out product you'll def love your results and the best part? It washes away!

I'm totally confused by this. How do you have 3c/4a hair and not have curls? Either way I think there is nothing wrong with wanting curly hair do what makes you happy..

ETA: if dryness is an issue adding a chemical process may exacerbate the problem though especially if the initial process you did didn't "work?"

Originally Posted by ms_clawed

I concur! I'm naturally a 4a with 3c in the back and i have major major ringlets. Every strand curls, so I don't know that you can be a 4a w/out curls? This whole curl classification thing is nuts to me. My avatar is a pic of my natural hair with KCCC, but I now have a Brazilian Kertain Treatment and I won't go back. EVER! It's been a lot of trial and error ( I'm sure if you look through my posts/pics you'll learn a lot), but I finally think I found my BKT HG. Tex laxing will only exacerbate the dryness issue. Nothing makes your hair more shiny and stress free than a BKT. I do mine at home now and I don't regret it. With 4a hair that doesn't curl w/out product you'll def love your results and the best part? It washes away!

Originally Posted by Hairguru17

Im going to definitely need you to elaborate of the BKT...I'm really considering getting one once my hair reaches a certain length and I am somewhere within the 4a-4b range. I have LOTS of questions. Not so much on the process but after the process, weeks after. Could you start a youtube demo with how you do it, the type of BKT you use, and the progress? I would really appreciate it.
I want to explore straight styling, and looser curls, but I dont know if I can keep up with "new growth" caused with texturizing. BKT seems like a good option but all that Formaldehyde <---(spelling?) stuff scares me!

I'm totally confused by this. How do you have 3c/4a hair and not have curls? Either way I think there is nothing wrong with wanting curly hair do what makes you happy..

ETA: if dryness is an issue adding a chemical process may exacerbate the problem though especially if the initial process you did didn't "work?"

Originally Posted by ms_clawed

I concur! I'm naturally a 4a with 3c in the back and i have major major ringlets. Every strand curls, so I don't know that you can be a 4a w/out curls? This whole curl classification thing is nuts to me. My avatar is a pic of my natural hair with KCCC, but I now have a Brazilian Kertain Treatment and I won't go back. EVER! It's been a lot of trial and error ( I'm sure if you look through my posts/pics you'll learn a lot), but I finally think I found my BKT HG. Tex laxing will only exacerbate the dryness issue. Nothing makes your hair more shiny and stress free than a BKT. I do mine at home now and I don't regret it. With 4a hair that doesn't curl w/out product you'll def love your results and the best part? It washes away!

Originally Posted by Hairguru17

Im going to definitely need you to elaborate of the BKT...I'm really considering getting one once my hair reaches a certain length and I am somewhere within the 4a-4b range. I have LOTS of questions. Not so much on the process but after the process, weeks after. Could you start a youtube demo with how you do it, the type of BKT you use, and the progress? I would really appreciate it.
I want to explore straight styling, and looser curls, but I dont know if I can keep up with "new growth" caused with texturizing. BKT seems like a good option but all that Formaldehyde <---(spelling?) stuff scares me!

Originally Posted by aishamodel

You've been in my head!!! I've been researching the BKT as well b/c I want my curls loosened. I've heard some negative but mostly positive things about it. *waits for Hairguru's response*

I'd probably never do, but I have posted review pics and so forth. Have you girls clicked onto the Keratin services forum, lots and lots of ladies post there daily. All my business is on there, too! Aphrodiva has been posting since early 09 and has done all of her treatments on her 4a, which, according to her has grown by leaps and bounds due to her BKT treatment. I haven't seen growth, but I know, I haven't had any breakage, and I've done like 4 treatments on my hair this summer alone. There are so many things that will play into your results and I can tell you which brands are the most mild and will definately NOT drastically alter your hair texture. Some of us, like myself and Aphrodiva, like the MUCH looser curls you can acheive. Others like to use just a little of a mild forumla to get the softer and shinier texture, with not much loosening of the curl. 90% ( I'm making up this percentage, but there are a lot)of the BKTs out there contain some form of formeldahyde so when you are applyin the product there WILL be fumes. But girls,, let me tell you, if you can stand the chemical burn of a relaxer, these little fumes won't kill you.

Since then, I went to a Brazilian Salon and got some super duper BKT that really really relaxed my texture, in fact, I'm dealing with two texturs on my head now, which isn't the best, but it's better than the notted mess I had to deal with before. the treatment I got at the dominican salon MUST have contained major formeldahyde because it hasn't washed out and it's been 3 months, so be careful! Not every BKT is created equal which is why it's ALWAYS better do this yourself. Too many stylists are ill informed and don't know how to change their technique to manipulate the results. ANyway, go onto the keratin services forum on this site and search away. Most of the girls there use QOD max and order it for super cheap on ebay from Kertatintoday( aka keratin4u). Seems to be a MUCH cheaper alternative to the HG (holy grain) BKT forumla for women of color Marcia Tex. I'm hopeful I can get my hands on two ounces of Marcia T. one day, cuz I know I won't be disappointed!

@ the OP - I'm not sure about your full reggie, but it doesn't seem like you are using enough moisturizers. Were you using a LI under your Eco Styler, and why the sulfate shampoo? That is SUPER drying to hair...if I only used a sulfate poo my hair would look frizzy and mussed up on the regular.